The government's announcement to re-introduce the Tuition Fee Free Education Policy for the 2022 academic year comes as a relief for many parents nationwide - but it won't be the same for schools in Morobe Province. Parents and students attending Morobe Schools will again dig deeper into their pockets so their kids can get an education after the Provincial Education Board made a decision for all schools in the province to continue charging the parental component for school fees in the 2022 academic. The announcement comes just weeks before the resumption of the 2022 academic year and after the National Government’s announcement to re-introduce the free-education policy for schools nationwide. Provincial Education Advisor Keith Tangui said a decision was reached by the Provincial Education Board despite the government’s intervention to look after fees for this year for elementary to secondary schools. “The fees paid in by students will cater for outstanding bills and debts incurred by the schools over the years.” The new parental component fees for this year are K200.00 per student for elementary education, K350.00 per student for primary schools, K700.00 for day students in secondary schools and K900.00 for boarding students. Technical and vocational schools will be charging K600.00 per student for day students and K800.00 for boarding. Mr. Tangui said the boards decision is binding and for the welfare of the students to keep school operations going. “Schools also need to deliver projects and charging of fees will greatly assist in this area.” Mr. Tangui also emphasised the urgent need to address student over-crowding and the way to do it was to build more infrastructure like classrooms and dormitories.

The St John Ambulance have temporarily suspended their services in Kundiawa, Chimbu Province following an attack on one of their Ambulances. CEO of St John Matt Cannon said the incident happened last week Thursday at the Sipagkul village in the Gumine District while it was responding to a severely injured individual in the area. “As the ambulance approached Sipagkul village, they had people throwing stones and wielding offensive weapons.” “We don’t understand why they were acting hostile towards an ambulance.” “A rock made contact with one of the side windows of the ambulance, smashing the window and causing damage to the side of the vehicle.” “The matter has been reported to the Kundiawa Police.” A very disappointed Mr Cannon said, this is the second such incident in two months where rocks have been thrown at ambulances. He said the poor actions of one individual affects the services to the whole population. “We are disappointed that when events like this happen, ambulances should have free passage.” “We support all sides, we support all people, we don’t discriminate.” “If someone’s in need of help, our job is to get to them and provide that help and get them that emergency medical treatment they need.” Meanwhile, there will be no services available as the vehicle is currently being repaired in Goroka. Matt Cannon said this incident occurred at a time when the secondary ambulance for Kundiawa is currently having a routine maintenance, and it cannot immediately step-in to assist.

A magistrate at the Waigani Committal Court this morning summoned the Administration Superintendent at Boroko Police Station to appear in court on January 12, 2022 to explain the circumstances in the granting of bail to a defendant accused of robbing using offensive weapons. Magistrate Paul Nii made the summons after hearing the case of the NCD Governor’s son’s wife who was slapped with four charges including armed robbery. He said granting of bail for armed robbery cases is not within the jurisdiction of police or the committal court to make but must be sought at the relevant courts which is the National and Supreme court. The defendant was released on a K1000 police bail after being arrested and charged with one count each of deprivation of liberty, armed robbery, threaten to kill and unlawful assault on another woman on November 30, 2021. Police prosecutor Joseph Sangam took note of the summons and the matter will return this Wednesday, January 12, 2020.

The wife of NCD Governor’s son, Sengol Parkop appeared at the Waigani Committal Court this morning after she was slapped with four charges in relation to an attack on another woman in November last year. Quinnie Mick, 24 years of age from Kupin Kem village in Ambum, Enga Province was charged with one count each of deprivation of liberty, armed robbery, threaten to kill and unlawful assault. The court heard that on November 30, 2021 between 9am and 1pm, Quinnie used her husband’s phone and pretending to be him, sent several text messages to the victim to meet up at Shangri La Motel at Waigani in NCD. The victim was part of Sengol’s Campaign team in the recent Moresby North West By Election and Quinnie had suspected her of been involved in a sexual relationship with her husband. The victim thinking it was him, made her way to the said location after receiving the messages. While she was there, the accused with a group of men rushed up on the victim and attacked her by kicking and punching her before forcing her into a vehicle and drove off to several locations around the city before she was rescued by a police unit at Hohola. Quinnie repeatedly questioned the victim if she had any secret sexual relationship with her husband but the victim denied any sexual involvement. The victim was repeatedly attacked while being held inside the vehicle and the mob further attempted to remove her clothes during the ordeal. Magistrate Paul Nii read the charges to Quinnie and adjourned the matter to February 23, 2021 for the matter to return to court. Quinnie is currently out on a K1000 police bail.

‘Around 10 years old, my favourite sport was volleyball. I hated playing cricket. My father who is a former Barramundis player would always encourage me to play cricket, but I never listened. When I reached 13, I started playing cricket in the Hanuabada village competition. I really liked cricket from then on.’ PIH U19 Cricket PNG all-rounder from Hanuabada tells his story of how he got into the game of cricket. By age 15 he had joined the local cricket club and things just evolved from there. Now at 17 and enthusiastically training for his debut on the international stage, he says the game has taught him so much. ‘I learnt a lot of things through cricket beyond like batting and fielding techniques, like respect the coaches and our parents.’ ‘Training has been good. I still need to work on my running and batting skills, as we’ve only had a few months of training. But I’m very excited to be playing in the World Cup and a bit nervous of travelling.’ Sharing the same sentiments as most of his other teammates, John says he just wants to learn as much as he can from the other participating countries that will be at the World Cup. ‘I like retired Australian cricketer, Mitchel Johnson. He bowls a lot of trick balls and I’ve never seen a bowler bowl like that before. Especially for him as a left-handed bowler and me being one too.’ Before the U19 team’s first game in the World Cup, he has a few words of encouragement for his teammates. ‘Mi laik tok tasol long ol mangi olsem, mipla go long nem blong kantri. And I want to encourage them to think big. [I’d like to remind the boys that we’re doing this for our country.] John would like to thank his family for always encouraging him to join the sport since he was a boy. He also extends his gratitude towards Cricket PNG for the opportunity to make the team – a truly unforgettable experience for him.

The PNG National Power Grid Backbone Infrastructure Project involving 6 provinces, was originally developed to meet the growing energy requirements of major populations, enterprise, and industrial resource concerns in the region. This is a project of substantial national importance, affecting the livelihoods of millions of Papua New Guineans. The project is in line with government’s desire to improve access by PNG households to reliable power supply. The project was originally approved 6 years ago, based on transmission feasibility reports published in 2014. After an exhaustive international tender selection process, Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd (TBEA) were contracted to deliver phase 1 and later, phase 2 of the project. TBEA has a 75-year history of transformer manufacturing and 60 years of wire and cable fabricating. It is a leading enterprise in the power transmission and distribution industry, with one of the largest Research & Development export bases in the world. This is a critical project delivered by a world class contractor. The NEC approved the project variation to add the Tari to Hides 132kV transmission and substation project in its Decision No. 138/2021, with contracts executed in July 2021 at a widely publicized event attended by the Prime Minister Hon James Marape, Minister for State Enterprises Hon William Duma, the PNG Power Chairman Moses Maladina and Board member Chey Scovell, and the former Managing Director of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) Isikeli Taureka. This critical addition will strengthen and diversify the power supply to the network, by connecting gas generation assets in Hides to homes and businesses. This project makes absolute commercial sense to PNG Power. The aim of the main project is to build the transmission network necessary to access cheap gas power from Hides to improve generation availability and reliability at the western end of the Highlands region to support generation from Pauanda and Yonki. The outcome of the project will reduce generation cost and power disruption caused by generation shortfall for the upper Highlands centres including Mt. Hagen. Tari will no longer rely on expensive diesel generation, with a move to cleaner cheaper locally extracted gas-powered generation. Ramu1 and Yonki hydro assets will have more available capacity to supply lower highlands centres, Lae and Madang. KCH is funding the K71million project variation, through a shareholder lending arrangement to PNG Power. This adds to over a billion kina in total project funding for this vital infrastructure. This project is part of PNG Power’s 15-year power development plan and supports the company’s move to accessing cheaper energy production, whilst increasing transmission capacity and reliability.

The SP PNG Hunters are delighted to announce that the Gold Coast Performance Centre, Runaway Bay will once again be the home away from home for the SP PNG Hunters in 2022. Located at the northern-end of the Gold Coast, the GC Performance Centre is a premier sporting facility boasting state of the art equipment and lodgings and the SP PNG Hunters are excited to continue this relationship into the 2022 season after living and training onsite there last year. Director of the Centre, Brendan Flynn said he is pleased to see the SP PNG Hunters return. “After successfully hosting the Hunters during the 2021 season, our staff and members are very excited to welcome them back to their second home, the Gold Coast Performance Centre for the 2022 season. While 2021 was challenging, it was fantastic to watch the development of the Hunters through the year and we look forward to being part of their journey next season and beyond,” he said. It was a difficult process for the club to relocate from PNG to Runaway Bay last year amid the COVID pandemic, however a strong finish to the 2021 season saw the SP PNG Hunters win three of their last four games and finish the competition on a high. SP PNG Hunters CEO Scott Barker says he is excited for the club to pick up where they left off last year and carry that momentum over into the 2022 season. “Last year certainly wasn’t without its challenges but I am proud of the way the club responded. The playing squad in particular showed great resilience and they will take plenty of confidence from the way they finished the 2021 season,’ he said. Although the SP PNG Hunters’ spiritual home will always be in PNG, the club is pleased to be based out of Runaway Bay again this year and are excited at the opportunity to once again represent PNG in the 2022 QRL competition. The SP PNG Hunters will arrive in Australia in late January before kicking off the 2022 Hostplus competition on Saturday 19th of March against the Mackay Cutters.

Wales have received a shot in the arm after Bath’s director of rugby, Stuart Hooper, revealed that Taulupe Faletau should make his return to action when the Six Nations starts in February. The 31-year-old has been sidelined with an ankle injury sustained on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa and last played in the second Test of that series at the end of July. But Hooper said the Cardiff-bound number eight is close to a return to action. “Taulupe is not too far away,” he told the BBC. “It’s an aggravation of the ankle injury he picked up the first time he trained with us after the Lions tour. Making progress “It’s just that which is keeping him away from training, but he’s progressed in the last few weeks and hopefully we’ll see him back out there sooner rather than later.” Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Dublin on February 5 and when asked if he believes Faletau will be fit for that encounter, Hooper replied: “Yeah, I think so. Taulupe’s a world class player and always gets talked about when the Six Nations comes around, but he’s not played rugby since before the Lions Test matches. “So that’s a long time without playing and we want to see him back playing for Bath as soon as possible. Then I’m sure Wales will want to look at him after that.” SOURCE: PLANET RUGBY

Air Niugini in partnership with Smartvel, a leading destination content provider, has launched a new interactive COVID-19 travel requirements map on www.airniugini.com to help make it easier for its customers to stay up-to-date with international travel restrictions and entry regulations worldwide. Given the ever-changing nature of COVID-19 pandemic and the associated government-imposed travel requirements in response to the outbreak globally, Air Niugini sees the need to keep its customers informed on the latest international travel information as they plan their travel. Air Niugini’s interactive travel restrictions map offers complete information about: Entry restrictions Quarantine measures COVID-19 tests Information specific to vaccinated passengers. Testing labs in Origin and Destination Forms & Applications required Health Insurance Local Health Information Connecting flights information The tool comes in-built with a simple color-coded map to show if a destination is closed, partially open, fully open and if any tests or self-quarantining is required for travel. Customers can also filter and view destinations’ COVID-19 related travel restrictions with personalized results based on origin, destination, nationality, residency and vaccination status. This information comes from trustworthy sources such as International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other official Government sites, and all sources are checked every hour in order to guarantee that the information is current. By providing the most up-to-date information about travel requirements with this easy-to-use interactive map all in one place, Air Niugini aims to help travelers conveniently plan and prepare ahead of their next trip with a peace of mind. Air Niugini's Travel Requirements Map can be accessed on www.airniugini.com or link:  https://www.airniugini.com.pg/international-travel-restrictions-and-requirements

Novak Djokovic has broken his silence in Australia to thank supporters after the country’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said he is “free to leave any time” and is not being detained. The 34-year-old is being held in isolation at the Park Hotel in Carlton, Melbourne, awaiting the outcome of an appeal against the decision by the Australian Border Force (ABF) to cancel the reigning Australian Open champion’s entry visa and deport him. The appeal is set to be heard on Monday. On Friday, Djokovic broke his silence as he wrote: “Thank you to people around the world for your continuous support. I can feel it and it is greatly appreciated,” as part of an Instagram story. He added in Serbian: “Thank you to my family, Serbia and all good people across the world who are sending me support. Thanks to dear God for health.” Earlier, the ABF also cancelled Czech tennis player Renata Voracova’s visa before the Australian Open, and detained her in the same immigration hotel as Djokovic. Voracova was informed by ABF officials that she had to leave the country and the Czech Foreign Ministry later confirmed she would be dropping out of the tournament. “Renata Voracova decided to drop out of the tournament due to limited possibilities for training and to leave Australia,” a statement read on Friday. Doubles specialist Voracova played in Melbourne earlier this week but has since been detained by Border Force officials as authorities reassessed the entrance documents of two people following the drama involving Djokovic. Djokovic has never revealed whether he is vaccinated against Covid-19, but has criticized mandates ruling that players must be double-jabbed, and posted on social media before setting off to say he had received “exemption permission”. Australia Home Affairs Minister Andrews maintained Djokovic was not being detained under any duress in the country, however, as he waits in quarantine for his appeal against visa cancellation to be heard. “Mr Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia,” she told ABC. “He is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that. “We treat all people who are in immigration detention fairly, equitably.” She added: “A visa was granted for entry, but that does not guarantee entry. “He (Djokovic), along with any other individual who is seeking to enter Australia, also has to meet the entry requirements which at this point includes medical evidence of vaccination or alternatively medical reasons why that individual cannot be vaccinated. “He hasn’t met the entry requirements - there is a lot of chatter about the visa, but that in my understanding is not the issue, it is the entry requirements…that he was not able to produce the evidence which was needed for entry into Australia.” Parents: They’re crucifying him On Thursday, Djokovic’s father demonstrated outside the National Assembly buildings, and said of his son: “He met all the required conditions for the entry and participation at the tournament that he would have certainly won, since it’s Novak, the best tennis player and sportsman in the world.” Srdjan Djokovic added: “Jesus was crucified and endured many things, but is still alive among us. Novak is also crucified... he will endure.” The family also held an emotional news conference at his restaurant in central Belgrade, with his nine previous Australian Open trophies on display. “They are keeping him in captivity. They are stomping all over Novak to stomp all over Serbia and the Serbian people,” his father Srdjan added, who also told local media his son was “the Spartacus of the new world”. He also said the visa issue was “nothing to do with sport, it is a political agenda”. His mother, Dijana, added: “They are keeping him as a prisoner, that’s not human and it’s not fair. “This is a political attack on Novak Djokovic...he is a scapegoat.” Outside the Melbourne hotel in which Djokovic is quarantining, Serbian supporters continue to gather and say they will keep doing so until he is released. Djokovic’s wife Jelena has expressed her gratitude to the player’s fans for “using your voice to send love to my husband.” In Instagram and Twitter posts marking Christmas in Serbia, Jelena Djokovic wrote: “Thank you dear people, all around the world for using your voice to send love to my husband. “I am taking a deep breath to calm down and find gratitude (and understanding) in this moment for all that is happening. “The only law that we should all respect across every single border is Love and respect for another human being. “Love and forgiveness is never a mistake but a powerful force. Wishing you all well!” Becker: Djokovic making ‘big mistake’ not getting vaccinated Novak Djokovic is making a “big mistake” if he is not getting vaccinated against Covid-19, according to his former coach Boris Becker. Becker - himself a former world No 1 and twice Australian Open champion, as well as winning three Wimbledon singles titles - enjoyed a successful three-year partnership with Djokovic, which included six Grand Slam victories. The 54-year-old maintains a close relationship with the Serb, but feels their views on how to best protect against coronavirus are very different. “On this occasion, I think he is making a big mistake in not getting vaccinated,” Becker said in the Daily Mail. “It is one that threatens what remains of his career and his chance to cement himself as the greatest player of all time. “Four times I sat in his box as he won the Australian Open, so I am fully aware of his great strengths as an incredible competitor. I also think he has a great character that can easily be misunderstood. “Yet these strengths can also be weaknesses. The same incredible determination which I saw win so many close matches can be a vulnerability with his stubbornness.” Becker feels if Djokovic does maintain his vaccine hesitancy, it could present more hurdles within his professional tennis career. “He is incredibly strong-willed, with very firm beliefs. If he does not, then in 10 years he will look back on it and realize he made a mistake,” Becker said. “It is not just about Australia. The fact is that we are living in a different world and he is going to find it very hard to live the life of a professional tennis player travelling around without the vaccination. “Those are the rules, whether one likes them or not.” Nadal: Djokovic knew the risks Rafael Nadal criticized Djokovic for “not following the rules”, saying: “If he wanted, he would be playing without a problem. “He has taken his own position and everybody is free to take their position. But there are consequences. I don’t like the situation. In some ways, I feel sorry for him. “But he knew the conditions months ago. He made his own decision.” Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has since weighed in on Twitter to call for his country to “do better” in its treatment of Djokovic. The world number 93 wrote: “Look I definitely believe in taking action, I got vaccinated because of others and for my mum’s health, but how we are handling Novak’s situation is bad, really bad. “Like these memes, headlines, this is one of our great champions but at the end of the day, he is human. Do better.” Djokovic’s Aussie Open debacle: What’s happened? Djokovic flew to Australia with a ‘vaccine exemption’ and arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday, but was ultimately denied entry into the country after nine hours at the airport. The Serb’s visa was one which did not allow for medical exemptions and was cancelled, after which he was moved to hotel quarantine as his team launched an appeal - this appeal has been adjourned until Monday. SOURCE: CNBC NEWS

Strong gale force winds that can cause damage to structures and tear off tree branches, even to the point of uprooting trees is predicted to hit Port Moresby tomorrow between 8AM and 8PM. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the warning today attributing the weather situation to a rapidly developing area of low pressure in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia. It stated that Port Moresby is currently experiencing strong gusty winds of 20 knots to 34 knots and between the warning times mentioned for tomorrow, winds gust are expected to increase from 25 knots to 40 knots. The public is being cautioned to take heed of the destructive wind warning and keep away from trees, power poles and tall structures and boat operators and villagers along the coast are also advised to refrain from going out to sea at this time. NWS stated that if the low pressure continue to develop, rainfall is expected tonight and tomorrow as well.

The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (“ICCC”) wishes to inform industry participants, relevant stakeholders and the general public that consistent with the ICCC Act, it has decided to hold a pre-decision Conference on the Clearance Application lodged by Telstra Corporation Limited (“Telstra”) for its proposed acquisition of Digicel (PNG) Limited (“Digicel”) and its subsidiaries. ICCC Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer Paulus Ain said as required the ICCC released its Draft Determination on this application on the 5th of January, 2022. “After careful consideration of the information provided in Telstra’s Clearance application, and as well as comments received from both industry participants and other relevant stakeholders, including available market information, the has ICCC concluded in its Draft Determination that the proposed acquisition will not have, or will not be likely to have, the effect of substantially lessening competition in any telecommunication services market.” Mr. Ain said. “The ICCC therefore Proposes to Give Clearance to Telstra to proceed with the proposed acquisition.” The ICCC now invites persons who may have an interest in the proposed acquisition to provide comments and or make submissions on the released Draft Determination. A copy of the Draft Determination can be accessed on ICCC’s website: www.iccc.gov.pg or can be provided upon request through the following email address: wnoah@iccc.gov.pg. All submissions will be treated as public information, except where information is marked “confidential” by the submitter. Where information is marked confidential, the submitter must provide reason(s) as to why that particular information should not be disclosed to the public or kept confidential. The ICCC will assess and decide on the confidentiality claim(s). Regarding the pre-decision Conference, formal invitation letters will be sent to certain stakeholders only to participate and as well as provide their comments and or submissions on the Draft Determination. All comments and submissions should reach the ICCC by 25th January, 2022. All queries relating to this matter should be directed to Messrs. Barzillai Dominic or Cedrick Yombi on telephone 312 4600 or email to addresses: bdominic@iccc.gov.pg; cyombi@iccc.gov.pg respectively.